Durham Dispatch

Dear Mayor Williams, City Council members and Manager Ferguson, We remain committed to working collaboratively with you to continue our shared progress in recruiting and retaining the experienced workers who keep the City of Durham running. Over the past several years, we have seen meaningful movement toward improving wages and protecting employee benefits. However, we continue to have significant concerns about equity and fairness-specifically regarding which groups of employees are receiving the largest share of wage-improvement investments. It has not been General Step Plan employees, despite the fact that these workers deliver our core services and maintain the City's infrastructure. With the rapidly rising cost of housing and healthcare, keeping pace with the Universal Living Wage Ordinance must be a major priority this year—particularly if we are to address wage compression as well. This is a challenge we are committed to solving together. We look forward to meeting with you and discussing the enclosed proposals in greater detail. Yours for quality jobs and quality services, Willie Brown, President, Durham City Workers Union, UE Local 150 FY 26-27 Budget Proposals Raise the minimum wage for all city workers to $26.09 per hour. Maintain alignment with the Durham Livable Wage Ordinance. End wage compression. Long-term employees should not be earning the same as new hires. Everyone should receive the same increase this year to restore fairness. Fair step increases. Step raises should provide equal dollar amounts for every worker. Percentage-based systems only widen inequality. Eliminate the unfair merit pay system. The current approach funnels bonus money to supervisors and leaves others behind. A simple "pass or fail" system, like Charlotte uses, restores fairness. Commercial Driver's License (CDL) differential pay. Workers with special credentials, advanced licenses, or CDL qualifications should be compensated accordingly. Protect our healthcare. Workers should not face premium hikes or increased out-of-pocket costs. Raise minimum wage to $26.09 per hour based on the City of Durham's Livable Wage Ordinance The Durham Minimum Livable Wage (DMLW) is calculated based on the average of the last four full years of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Fair Market Rent (FMR) data for a one-bedroom unit. The living wage calculation determines the hourly wage needed to afford housing and other basic expenses without spending more than 30% of income on housing. Year HUD FMR 2025 $1,637.00 2024 $1,466.00 2023 $1,250.00 2022 $1,073.00 Formula: (1,637 + 1,466 + 1,250 + 1,073) / 4 / 0.3)) 12 / 2080 = $26.09 Livable Wage History Current FY2025 FY2024 $21.90 $19.58 $18.46 End wage compression for Durham city workers FY2026 General Employee Step Pay Plan Grade 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 A12 $19.86 $20.86 $21.90 $23.00 $24.15 $25.35 $26.62 $27.95 $29.35 $30.82 $31.89 $33.49 A13 $21.14 $22.20 $23.30 $24.47 $25.70 $26.98 $28.32 $29.75 $31.23 $32.79 $33.94 $35.63 B21 $22.48 $23.61 $24.79 $26.03 $27.33 $28.70 $30.13 $31.64 $33.22 $34.89 $36.10 $37.91 B22 $23.91 $25.11 $26.37 $27.69 $29.08 $30.53 $32.05 $33.65 $35.34 $37.10 $38.40 $40.32 B23 $25.43 $26.71 $28.04 $29.45 $30.92 $32.46 $34.09 $35.79 $37.58 $39.46 $40.84 $42.88 B24 $27.51 $28.88 $30.33 $31.85 $33.44 $35.11 $36.87 $38.71 $40.65 $42.68 $44.17 $46.38 B25 $30.40 $31.93 $33.52 $35.19 $36.96 $38.80 $40.74 $42.78 $44.92 $47.16 $48.82 $51.26 In FY2026, 28 employees in pay grade A12 (Step 1-2) and A13 (Step 1) were on steps that were compressed (gray). In FY2027, this number is going to be much higher (green), pending no market adjustment. There are problems with compression. For instance, a senior heavy equipment operator (Maintenance Specialist Sr, B23) who is very skilled and trained on many pieces of equipment and holds CDL and other endorsements, would earn the same wage as a new laborer (A12) with no training or experience. Similarly, a new employee hired as a laborer (A12) would be making the same amount of money as an employee with 7 or more years of service. This often results in workers training workers who earn the same or even more than they do, causing great tension in the job. More senior workers and those with more experience resent this situation. Fair step pay increases Percentage-based raises are inequitable. We understand that different jobs require different levels of training and experience, and should be paid different amounts. However, awarding workers that are already higher wage earners a large dollar amount each year, masked as the same percentage, is not equitable. For instance, when a worker earning a salary of $100,000 receives a 5% increase, they will witness a raise of $5,000. Compared to a worker making $44,000 per year who will only see an additional $2,200 increase in salary. The other problem with this scenario is that the city also disproportionately spends money on the raises for higher earners compared to lower wage earners. Claiming that workers get the same percentage masks the truth that the actual dollar amount received is not equitable. This further creates divisions between pay of the city's low wage earners compared to the high wage earners. The other problem with this scenario is that the city also disproportionately spends money on the raises for higher earners, compared to lower wage earners. Ex. 1: Sanitation laborer Ex. 2: Professional worker Current salary $44,000 $100,000 5% raise $2,200 $5,000 Solution: Annual step increases for everyone based on median pay for the entire city. This option would provide the most pay equity and distribute pay raises more evenly across all pay bands. This would not necessarily cost the city, as a whole, a lot more money, but it would provide the most equitable raises possible under the current pay system. You would do this by identifying the median pay for all city employees and using that number to calculate the 5% step raise. If we recognize that our city's lowest-wage earners bear the greatest burden from rising housing, food, and childcare costs, then our pay system should reflect those values. Eliminate unfair merit system The current approach funnels bonus money to supervisors and leaves others behind. The current system relies on supervisors to heavily document each employee's work performance to justify a merit bonus. The net effect, is that managers and directors, who do not work on a daily basis directly with most workers, only award bonuses to supervisors who they have more direct contact. CDL differential pay Workers with special credentials, advanced licenses, or CDL qualifications should be compensated accordingly. Labor studies suggest that compensation practices involving differential pay are key strategies for the recruitment and retention of employees with commercial driver's licenses (CDLs), particularly in public sector and transit. The City of Charlotte has offered a 2.5% CDL premium to employees whose job classifications require the license since July 2022. Protect our healthcare Workers should not face premium hikes or increased out-of-pocket costs. We understand that the cost of healthcare in North Carolina is rapidly rising. The recent negotiations between Duke and Aetna illustrate the increased drive for corporate profits. We implore the city to maintain its commitment to city employees by maintaining the current low premiums, co-pays and deductibles, so as not to further erode workers' income. This article was first published by UE Local 150.

Fifteen servers at the Searstone Retirement Community in Cary have been on strike since the beginning of April 2026 and picketed outside their workplace on May 12. They walked off the job due to grievances that include low wages, a cruel supervisor, and management’s failure to protect staff from sexual harassment. At the strike’s outset, the workers made four demands: $25 per hour wage for dining department staff Permanent removal of a manager named Aris Re-hire offers to wrongfully terminated workers or those forced to resign An apology from management to residents for the dysfunction in the dining department Management tried to divide the workers by asking them to meet one-by-one during the first three weeks of the strike. The servers refused, maintaining themselves as a unit. On April 22, supervisors agreed to meet with the workers as a group. In a partial concession, they told the servers that Aris would no longer work in their facility. The workers asked whether he had been fired or transferred to another retirement home. Management has not yet answered. After more than a month on strike, the servers and community supporters picketed their workplace on May 12. An Instagram post promoting the picket suggested that workers were especially focused on the $25 per hour demand [1]. A word-of-mouth network centered around UE 150 and the Union of Southern Service Workers has helped bring attention to the strike. A strike fund sponsored by NC Mutual Aid has raised more than $2,100 from 31 donors [2]. In addition to requesting donations, servers have asked community supporters to reach out to Searstone management to encourage them to meet the workers demands, with directions available on the Chuffed strike fund page. The main trigger of strike appears to have been the conduct of Aris, a manager in the dining department. Workers say he was incompetent and abusive, habitually screaming at workers up close to intimidate them. The mistreatment fell disproportionately on female servers and women of color. When workers tried to report him, they were reprimanded or fired. No action was taken to remove Aris until workers made it a strike demand. Low wages at Searstone are another grievance. Workers say none of them earn a livable wage, with many holding two jobs to support their families. Some have worked at the retirement community for years and seen their hourly pay rise by less than fifty cents. One worker was reprimanded after a second job conflicted with a mandatory meeting that had not appeared on her schedule. Workers also say that colleagues with a family connection to a resident are paid more than their peers. The servers also describe management’s failure to protect dining staff from sexual harassment. Workers are subjected to inappropriate comments and unwanted touching by residents. When one underage server documented in writing that she had been groped by a specific resident, management said female servers would no longer be assigned to serve him. That policy was not enforced. The hostile work environment created by Aris and other factors also led to an overwork problem. As workers left through resignation or termination, the dining department became chronically understaffed. Management pushed the work onto the remaining servers rather than hiring replacements. Aris would tell the team that full staffing was unnecessary while also demanding that workers provide service at the level of a fine dining restaurant. Servers never received that type of training, and their pay doesn’t meet fine dining standards. Information on the Searstone strike is limited, but it appears that workers are still on strike, pressing their demands. At the time of this publishing, the strike fund remains active and no resolution has been publicly announced. Work Cited Linteau, Nicole Nadal (@nicolenadal.exe), et al. "We need your help and support! Join us on the picket line!..." Instagram, 10 May 2026, www.instagram.com/p/DYKnJxlFgvk/. "Strike Fund (Ongoing Strike at Searstone)." Chuffed, NC Mutual Aid, Accessed on 21 May 2026, chuffed.org/project/177777-strike-fund-ongoing-strike-at-Searstone.

Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop speaks to the Durham City Council about the impacts of data centers. On Monday, Durham City Council voted to put a halt on data center development in the city. Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop was one of many people who spoke in support of a moratorium at the City’s Monday night meeting. “Over 40 people spoke, and those speakers were representing neighbors, educators, environmentalists, healthcare workers and even those employed by Big Tech, and not one of those folks spoke in favor of data centers or opposed a moratorium,” Samantha said. Though the approved moratorium only covers 60 days, a longer one is in the works. “Initially the intent was for the Durham Council to decide on a 24-month moratorium — the longest yet in North Carolina — and this was an effort brought forth by a number of community organizations that formed a coalition: Community Land and Power, Clean Water NC, Neustro Barrio, Sound Rivers and many others,” Samantha said. “The moratorium was brought by those folks and introduced by Councilman Nate Baker, but at the last moment, on the day of the hearing, it was changed to a 60-day moratorium because the planning staff realized Durham’s unified development ordinance has a limit of 12 months on moratoriums.” The City’s plan is to align with a 12-month moratorium that Durham County is currently considering. “In the meantime, this 60-day moratorium is looking to buy some time so there’s no gap in coverage,” Samantha said. While the majority of Durham’s City Council is pro-development, that doesn’t seem to extend to data centers. “There seems to be a major difference in how they view data centers because the moratorium was unanimously approved, and the entire council seem to strongly opposed to data centers,” she said. “They brought up concerns about water quality, water quantity, noise, air pollution, increasing rate-payer costs and poor use of land. Even the pro-development council members objected to land being used for data centers that could be used for housing.” Samantha said the 60-day moratorium is just a starting point. “The real questions is how long the next moratorium will be and what will be accomplished while the moratorium is in place,” she said. “The City needs to use that time to get some answers about water usage, about what’s in the discharge, put permitting processes and enforcement mechanisms in place and pass protections for sensitive water resources — pass strong protections so those can’t be impacted.” Samantha said there will be a future public comment period with the longer moratorium. “We need to make sure that Durham planning staff answer the questions, put in place the regulations and put in place the protections,” she said. Listen to Sam’s comments at the public hearing below. Like the work your Riverkeeper is doing to advocate for your waterways? We do, too! Donate today to support her work! This article was first published by Sound Rivers. Riverkeepers, Attorney Talk Land-Use Policy Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop joined Haw Riverkeeper Emily Sutton and Southern Coalition for Social Justice Attorney James Huey to host a discussion about how to protect waterways from a policy standpoint this week. Moderated by North Carolina Conservation Network’s Affiliate Capacity Manager Kate Fulbright, “Designing Communities that Protect Our Waters,” the panel discussion was held at the SCSJ offices in Durham and drew a crowd of stakeholders in area waterways. “This was the first event of its kind, that we’ve done, where we’ve talked specifically about regulatory policy and land-use planning policy and what specifically needs to be done to protect waterways in the context of state preemption and other challenges,” Samantha said. The panelists each gave a short presentation on their work: Emily Sutton on stormwater planning and its opportunities in the Haw; Samantha on sediment pollution and strategies to prevent it; and James Huey on the basics of how Unified Development Ordinances and conditional rezonings work. (Left to right) North Carolina Conservation Network’s Affiliate Capacity Manager Kate Fulbright, Haw Riverkeeper Emily Sutton, Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop and Southern Coalition for Social Justice Attorney James Huey talked policy and strategy at “Designing Communities that Protect Our Waters." Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop’s presentation focused on sediment pollution. “We shared about how land use practices impact our resiliency, we talked about impacts in the context of climate resiliency, drought and flooding, land-use changes and how they impact water quality,” Samantha said. Afterward, the three were asked a series of questions allowing a deeper dive into these issues, then the floor was opened for a 20-minute Q&A. “There were a lot of great questions,” Samantha said. “People in the room really knew what they were talking about. There was a lot of energy, and it was clear a lot of people care deeply. Many of them were longtime residents who’ve seen in the changes in Durham over the last 30 years, and they are just heartbroken by what they’re seeing.” The panel discussion was a precursor to the Unified Development Ordinance Gold Standard which Waterkeepers Carolina, the consortium of Riverkeeper organizations across the state, and SCSJ will launch this year. Samantha said they’ll be planning similar events in the future. Kate Fulbright, Emily Sutton, Samantha Krop and James Huey post-panel discussion. “It was a good event, and it was a very good conversation,” she said. “We need to do more of those.” Like the work your Riverkeeper is doing to ensure communities know how to protect their waterways through policy? We do! Donate today to support her work! This article was first published by Sound Rivers.

¡La Organización Funciona! ¡Duke, Paga Lo Que Te Corresponde! (Español Abajo) In this piece, UFE’s Victor Urquiza tells the story of the powerful grassroots organizing that built the broad Durham Rising coalition and secured notable wage gains for Duke workers. UFE is proud to have brought our toolkit of economic justice movement supports to this ongoing fight for a better Durham for all. Protest at Duke Founders Day / Protesta en el Día de los Fundadores de Duke (Picture credit / Crédito de la imagen: Durham Rising) On March 4, 2026, Duke University announced that it will raise its minimum wage to $20 per hour for both the University and the Hospital, making it among the highest minimum wages offered by regional universities and health systems in North Carolina. In its statement, the University said, “This investment is about more than compensation—it’s about recognizing what our team members bring to our patients, their families, and each other every day.” What Duke University failed to mention in its statement was the months of tireless organizing by teachers, students, unions, and the Durham community demanding that Duke pay its fair share! The Spark Before I started working at United for a Fair Economy in January 2024, I was involved in a historic “stand down” led by the Durham Public Sector Workers Union UE150, a longtime economic justice partner of UFE in NC. In September 2023, sanitation workers in Durham, NC held a six-day strike, or “stand down,” protesting low wages and the high cost of living, and demanding $5,000 bonuses. While this militant action did result in major material improvements for the workers, including bonuses, many of their demands were not fully met. Sanitation workers speak out during their Stand Down (Photo credit: PSL Triangle) One of the main reasons the city gave for why it could not fully meet the workers’ demands was that there simply was not enough money, and that the only way to generate more would be by increasing taxes on the Durham community. This is a typical excuse given by local governments to justify a lack of funding for public workers. If the city was unwilling to pay, where else could these funds be found? For many longtime organizers in Durham, the solution was pretty simple: Who owns 11% of the land in Durham, has a $12.3 billion endowment, is the second-largest employer in North Carolina, and doesn’t pay its fair share of property taxes because of its nonprofit status? Duke University and its health care system. David vs. Goliath Almost 100 members of the Durham community joined to kick off the campaign (Photo credit: Duke Respect Durham Coalition) The Duke Respect Durham campaign, which later developed into Durham Rising, launched on September 14, 2024. This campaign sought to make Duke University pay its fair share in taxes. Without its nonprofit tax-exempt status, Duke University would owe at least $50 million annually in property taxes. Yet in 2023, Duke University and Duke Healthcare System paid only an estimated $1.3 million in property taxes. Meanwhile, working-class Durham residents, including Durham’s sanitation workers and Duke’s own workers, struggle to make ends meet, to pay for housing, and afford the basics. UFE played a key role in the development of the Duke Respect Durham campaign. We brought in coalition partners, especially people from immigrant, BIPOC, and low-wage worker groups, supporting members to establish and cultivate working relationships across differences that are key to our movement but were not in place previously. At meetings, we pushed for inclusive practices that could allow all voices, especially frequently marginalized ones, to be heard and have influence. We helped create media and visuals and to develop the narrative work to tell the story of this campaign in a moving and accessible way. We spread the word though outreach and community gatherings. And we supported meetings, events, and actions to provide childcare, food, and interpretation to increase participation of women and others with caregiving responsibilities, low-wage workers with many demands on their time, and immigrants. UFE’s approach to popular education and economic justice helped expand the scope of this campaign beyond a local struggle by providing a framework of an unfair systemic tax system that hoards wealth for the rich. The ongoing campaign to push Duke to pay its fair share in Durham speaks to the frustration many workers are feeling: the injustice within the city’s property tax system is blatant. There needs to be serious change now. Ultimately, this campaign developed beyond a fight for fair taxation into a broader class struggle between a massive institution and grassroots worker organizing. On May 8, 2025, the campaign expanded into Durham Rising, which put forward a set of demands. Durham Rising's Demands Dignified Work: Duke must pay $25 per hour, implement fair labor standards and benefits, and respect workers’ right to unionize. Duke must also hold contractors to the same standards. The Public Schools Our Students Deserve: Duke must contribute a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) to support public schools and educator salaries. Affordable Housing: Duke must build adequate affordable housing for students and graduate workers and contribute a PILOT to address the housing crisis. Public Infrastructure: Duke must contribute a PILOT to support Durham’s city services and the wages of city and county workers. Respect, Safety, and Protection: Duke must protect students, faculty, workers, programs, and services amid federal funding cuts, threats to freedom of speech, and deportation threats from ICE under the Trump administration. Launch of the Durham Rising Campaign (Photo credit: Durham Rising) Long Term Strategy to Win When this campaign launched, organizers understood that this would be a long fight. Duke has millions of dollars to fund its own campaigns to protect its reputation. It also has strong political and economic connections to powerful individuals in Durham and beyond. Its Board of Trustees is made up of millionaires and billionaires, including Apple CEO Tim Cook. However, what we had was the power of the masses on our side. With a petition that received over 10,000 signatures, the people of Durham made it clear that there is more than enough money to fund teachers, city workers, and housing. The question became: what kind of movement will it take to force Duke to meet these demands? Durham Rising is led by the Union of Southern Service Workers, UE 150, the Durham Association of Educators, Siembra NC, and Durham for All—organizations that represent a wide range of working-class communities and struggles. Mass protests, student walkouts, door knocking, a strong media campaign, candidate forums, press conferences, and more have all been used to wage this fight for better wages, economic justice, immigrant protections, and a better Durham for all. While the fight is far from over, it is clear that this Goliath — Duke University — is feeling the pressure. Duke did not raise wages out of the goodness of its heart, as it may claim, but because masses of workers spoke out. This victory belongs to the educators, students, service workers, and care providers who organized and demanded more. Durham Rising makes clear that the demand remains at least $25 per hour. Duke has more than enough resources to invest in its workforce and set a real standard for employers across the Triangle and universities nationwide. Through workshops, trainings, and building the mass movement, UFE is committed to supporting the movement for economic justice. In a state with one of the lowest unionization rates in the country — controlled by right-wing forces, shaped by “right-to-work” laws, and still grappling with the legacy of Jim Crow — these victories breathe new life into our movement. They demonstrate the power of working-class people and show that when we fight, we win. This article was first published by United for a Fair Economy. ¡La Organización Funciona! ¡Duke, Paga Lo Que Te Corresponde! En este artículo, Victor Urquiza, de UFE, relata la historia de la poderosa organización de base que forjó la amplia coalición Durham Rising y logró notables mejoras salariales para los trabajadores de Duke. UFE se enorgullece de haber aportado su conjunto de herramientas de apoyo a los movimientos por la justicia económica a esta lucha continua por un Durham mejor para todos. Protesta en el Día de los Fundadores de Duke (Crédito de la imagen: Durham Rising) El 4 de marzo de 2026, la Universidad de Duke anunció que aumentará su salario mínimo a $20 por hora tanto para la Universidad como para el Hospital, convirtiéndolo en uno de los salarios mínimos más altos ofrecidos por universidades y sistemas de salud en Carolina del Norte. En su comunicado, la Universidad dijo: “Esta inversión es más que compensación—se trata de reconocer lo que los miembros de nuestro equipo aportan a nuestros pacientes, sus familias y entre ellos todos los días.” Lo que la Universidad de Duke no mencionó en su comunicado fueron los meses de organización incansable por parte de docentes, estudiantes, sindicatos y la comunidad de Durham exigiendo que Duke pague lo que le corresponde. La Chispa Antes de comenzar a trabajar en United for a Fair Economy en enero de 2024, participé en un histórico “stand down” liderado por el Sindicato de Trabajadores del Sector Público de Durham UE150, un socio de en la lucha por la justicia económica con UFE en Carolina del Norte. En septiembre de 2023, los trabajadores de saneamiento en Durham, NC, realizaron una huelga de seis días, o “stand down”, en protesta por los bajos salarios y el alto costo de vida, exigiendo bonos de $5,000. Esta acción militante logró importantes mejoras materiales para los trabajadores, incluyendo bonos, pero muchas de sus demandas no se cumplieron completamente. Los trabajadores de saneamiento se pronuncian durante su “stand down”. (Crédito de la foto: PSL Triangle) Una de las principales razones que dio la ciudad para no poder cumplir totalmente con las demandas fue que simplemente no había suficiente dinero, y que la única forma de generar más sería aumentando los impuestos a la comunidad de Durham. Este es un pretexto típico que los gobiernos locales utilizan para justificar la falta de fondos para los trabajadores públicos. Si la ciudad no estaba dispuesta a pagar, ¿de dónde podrían salir esos fondos? Para muchos organizadores de Durham, la solución era bastante simple. ¿Quién posee el 11% de la tierra en Durham, tiene una dotación de $12.3 mil millones, es el segundo empleador más grande de Carolina del Norte y no paga lo que le corresponde en impuestos sobre la propiedad debido a su estatus de organización sin fines de lucro? La Universidad de Duke y su sistema de salud. David Contra Goliat Casi 100 miembros de la comunidad de Durham se unieron para lanzar la campaña (Crédito de la foto: Duke Respect Durham Coalition) La campaña Duke Respect Durham, que más tarde evolucionó a Durham Rising, se lanzó el 14 de septiembre de 2024. Esta campaña buscaba obligar a la Universidad de Duke a pagar lo que le corresponde en impuestos. Sin su estatus de exención fiscal como organización sin fines de lucro, la Universidad de Duke debería al menos $50 millones anuales en impuestos sobre la propiedad. Sin embargo, en 2023, la Universidad de Duke y su sistema de salud pagaron solo un estimado de $1.3 millones en impuestos sobre la propiedad. Mientras tanto, los residentes de clase trabajadora de Durham, incluidos los trabajadores de saneamiento y los propios trabajadores de Duke, luchan para llegar a fin de mes, pagar la vivienda y cubrir lo básico. UFE desempeñó fue fundamental en el desarrollo de la campaña Duke Respect Durham. Incorporamos socios de coalición, especialmente personas de comunidades inmigrantes, BIPOC y trabajadores de bajos salarios, apoyando a los miembros para establecer y fortalecer relaciones de trabajo entre diferentes sectores—algo fundamental para nuestro movimiento pero que antes no existía plenamente. En las reuniones, impulsamos prácticas inclusivas que permitieran que todas las voces, especialmente las más marginadas, fueran escuchadas e influyeran. Ayudamos a crear materiales mediáticos y visuales, así como a desarrollar la narrativa para contar la historia de esta campaña de manera conmovedora y accesible. Difundimos el mensaje mediante trabajo comunitario y reuniones, y apoyamos la organización de encuentros, eventos y acciones proporcionando cuidado infantil, comida e interpretación para aumentar la participación de mujeres, personas con responsabilidades de cuidado, trabajadores de bajos salarios con poco tiempo disponible, e inmigrantes. El enfoque de UFE en la educación popular y la justicia económica ayudó a ampliar el alcance de esta campaña más allá de una lucha local, proporcionando un marco que evidencia un sistema fiscal injusto que concentra la riqueza en manos de los ricos. La campaña en curso para presionar a Duke a pagar lo que le corresponde refleja la frustración de muchos trabajadores: la injusticia en el sistema de impuestos sobre la propiedad de la ciudad es evidente. Se necesita un cambio profundo ahora. Esta campaña evolucionó más allá de una lucha por impuestos justos hacia una lucha de clases más amplia entre una gran institución y la organización de base de los trabajadores. El 8 de mayo de 2025, la campaña se expandió a Durham Rising, que presentó las siguientes demandas: Las Demandas de Durham Rising Trabajo digno: Duke debe pagar $25 por hora, implementar estándares laborales y beneficios justos, y respetar el derecho de los trabajadores a sindicalizarse. También debe exigir estos estándares a sus contratistas. Las escuelas públicas que nuestros estudiantes merecen: Duke debe contribuir con un PILOT (pago en lugar de impuestos) para apoyar las escuelas públicas y los salarios de los educadores. Vivienda asequible: Duke debe construir suficiente vivienda asequible para estudiantes y trabajadores de posgrado, y contribuir con un PILOT para abordar la crisis de vivienda. Infraestructura pública: Duke debe contribuir con un PILOT para apoyar los servicios de la ciudad y los salarios de los trabajadores municipales y del condado. Respeto, seguridad y protección: Duke debe proteger a estudiantes, profesorado, trabajadores, programas y servicios ante recortes federales, amenazas a la libertad de expresión y amenazas de deportación por parte de ICE bajo la administración Trump. Lanzamiento de la campaña Durham Rising. (Crédito de la foto: Durham Rising) Estrategia Larga Para Ganar Cuando se lanzó esta campaña, los organizadores entendían que sería una lucha larga. Duke tiene millones de dólares para financiar sus propias campañas y proteger su reputación. También cuenta con fuertes conexiones políticas y económicas con personas influyentes en Durham y más allá. Su Junta de Fideicomisarios está compuesta por millonarios y multimillonarios, incluido el CEO de Apple, Tim Cook. Sin embargo, lo que teníamos de nuestro lado era el poder de las masas. Con una petición que reunió más de 10,000 firmas, el pueblo de Durham dejó claro que hay más que suficiente dinero para financiar a los docentes, trabajadores municipales y la vivienda. La pregunta pasó a ser: ¿qué tipo de movimiento se necesita para obligar a Duke a cumplir estas demandas? Durham Rising está liderado por el Sindicato de Trabajadores de Servicios del Sur, UE 150, la Asociación de Educadores de Durham, Siembra NC y Durham for All—organizaciones que representan una amplia gama de comunidades y luchas de la clase trabajadora. Protestas masivas, paros estudiantiles, trabajo puerta a puerta, una fuerte campaña mediática, foros de candidatos, conferencias de prensa y más han sido herramientas clave en esta lucha por mejores salarios, justicia económica, protección para inmigrantes y un mejor Durham para todos. Aunque la lucha está lejos de terminar, está claro que este Goliat—la Universidad de Duke—está sintiendo la presión. Duke no aumentó los salarios por buena voluntad, como puede afirmar, sino porque las masas de trabajadores alzaron la voz. Esta victoria pertenece a los educadores, estudiantes, trabajadores de servicios y proveedores de cuidado que se organizaron y exigieron más. Sin embargo, Durham Rising deja claro que la demanda sigue siendo de al menos $25 por hora. Duke tiene más que suficientes recursos para invertir en su fuerza laboral y establecer un verdadero estándar para empleadores en el Triangle y universidades en todo el país. A través de talleres, capacitaciones y la construcción de un movimiento de masas, UFE está comprometida con apoyar la lucha por la justicia económica. En un estado con una de las tasas de sindicalización más bajas del país—controlado por fuerzas de derecha, moldeado por leyes de “derecho al trabajo” y aún lidiando con el legado de Jim Crow—estas victorias dan nueva vida a nuestro movimiento. Demuestran el poder de la clase trabajadora y muestran que cuando luchamos, ganamos. Este artículo fue publicado originalmente por United for a Fair Economy.

American Rivers today announced the Dan River as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2026, citing threats from the construction of two major gas pipelines, Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP) and the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Project (MVP Southgate), that will cross North Carolina and Virginia and could jeopardize drinking water, wildlife habitat, and Indigenous cultural sites. “Energy production can’t come at the expense of our most vital of resources - our nation’s freshwater,” said Alice Broderick, spokesperson for American Rivers. “There is always a risk when pipelines are built along our rivers. These pipelines have to be constructed with the most stringent protections in place for the Dan River and the people that depend on it.” The Dan River originates in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and flows 214 miles east into North Carolina, joining the Roanoke River at Kerr Reservoir. It supplies drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people along its stretch. It also provides important habitat for endangered species, including the James spinymussel and Roanoke logperch, as well as freshwater mussels, otters, and migratory fish. The river also holds deep significance for Indigenous peoples, including the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Saura, and related Siouan-speaking communities, whose ancestral villages, burial sites, and ceremonial landscapes line its banks. “The Dan River is a life source for hundreds of thousands of people and a sacred cultural corridor for Indigenous communities. Any project that risks contaminating these waters or disturbing ancestral sites must be held to the highest legal and ethical standards. Consultation with all Indigenous leadership is not optional - it is a responsibility,” said Dr. Crystal Cavalier, Executive Director, 7 Directions of Service. The pipelines have both been permitted and could jeopardize the Dan River by increasing sedimentation, chemical contamination, and destabilization of riverbanks if not done with strict adherence to water quality standards. American Rivers is urging Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) and Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) to: Ensure state agencies enforce Clean Water Act requirements during pipeline construction. Hold pipeline companies accountable for protecting water quality, wildlife habitat, and Indigenous cultural sites. Consult with Indigenous leadership to assess potential risks and impacts for Tribal communities. For more details on this river and the full America’s Most Endangered Rivers® list of 2026, including the selection process, click here. This article was first published by 7 Directions of Service.

Image credit: UE Union During Nida Allam’s second attempt to unseat Rep. Valerie Foushee, the Triangle’s major labor unions and leftist parties did not unify or mobilize on her behalf. Progressive media, organizations, and politicians on the national level were enthusiastic about Allam, but this outside support didn’t make up the difference. During the election, canvassing capacity was divided between three different organizations. Many of the Triangle’s most capable organizing groups were focused on other priorities and didn’t engage with the electoral process. However, the local left has recently shown flashes of promise that could prove useful during the next attempt to drive the corporate establishment from the NC-04 Congressional seat. The Durham Association of Educators showed that a high level of mobilization is possible when an organization recruits and runs its own candidates rather than waiting for self-selected leaders to appear. And the Durham Rising coalition’s recent victories showed that the area's progressive institutions can cooperate successfully if they choose to. UE Local 150 UE 150 endorsed Allam, in theory giving her the support of many Durham city workers, UNC graduate students, and NC DHHS workers. However, the endorsement did not translate into rallies, canvassing, or positive word of mouth by union members. Nyssa Tucker, a UE 150 member and UNC graduate student, attended the Sanders-Allam Fighting Oligarchy rally on February 13, but there isn’t evidence of other forms of concrete support [1]. Other initiatives from the union continued during the campaign: a major petition from NC DHHS workers was delivered to management on January 13 [2]. The union, particularly the Durham city workers, has political sway when its members are mobilized. When the city skipped raises during COVID, UE 150 held a series of rallies, conducted a strike that was technically illegal, and successfully pressed the Durham city council for bonuses in October 2023 [3]. Over the next few years, the union secured significant wage increases for its members and reasserted itself as a real force in Durham politics [4]. To its credit, UE 150 endorsed across one of Durham’s most difficult divides. Alongside Allam, the union backed DeDreana Freeman for state senate. Allam helped push Freeman off Durham city council, where she had been a dependable ally of the union and city workers in budget fights. Freeman has a following in non-mainstream but politically active Durham circles. She is supported by Black activists outside of the orbit of Durham Committee for the Affairs of Black People as well as progressives who oppose the city’s approach to development issues, especially on annexation and rezoning cases. Durham Association of Educators During the 2026 election cycle, DAE endorsed four Board of Education candidates, many of them handpicked, and successfully installed all of them. The school staff union said it had “filled over 500 canvass shifts, knocked almost 10,000 doors, organized our school buildings, poll greeted during early voting and today on Election Day, and committed 3,000 votes for our slate” [5]. Among the newly elected board members are Natalie Bent Kitaif, a democratic socialist, and Nadeen Bir, the first Palestinian elected to office in North Carolina. DAE shared credit for its school board sweep, saying, "Making this vision for Durham Public Schools a reality will only be possible because of the coalition that came together to earn us this victory: Durham for All, Carolina Federation, and thousands of union members, neighbors, parents, and community supporters who put in the hard work these last few months to make this moment of hope possible." The school staff union only endorsed for the Durham school board and didn’t take a position on the Congressional race. Allam did not endorse in the Board of Education races. DAE endorsed Allam for county commission in 2020 and 2024. Allam and DAE were not publicly at odds. However, both ran sizable door-knocking operations, drawing from the same limited pool of progressive and left-wing activists. That pool was winnowed by a campaign window that was three months long, interrupted by the Christmas and New Year holidays, and marked by freezing or rainy conditions on several weekends. In September 2024, Allam and Christy Patterson of DAE both spoke at the launch of the Duke Respect Durham campaign [6]. Now called Durham Rising, the coalition calls for improved working conditions for Duke University staff and payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) from Duke to local government for priorities such as education, housing, and infrastructure. The Durham Rising coalition includes DAE, UE 150, the Duke Graduate Student Union, the Union of Southern Service Workers, Siembra NC, Durham for All, and Sunrise Duke. Image credit: Durham Rising Durham Rising saw several partial wins in March 2026. Duke University announced it would raise its minimum wage to $20 per hour, short of the coalition’s demand for at least $25. The university also announced a $203 million, three-year investment initiative called HomeGrown. The money is split across four areas: $120 million for partnerships with Triangle-based construction companies, $45 million for contracting with local businesses, and $38 million for affordable housing development and first-time homebuyer assistance [7]. Durham city council member Nate Baker has questioned whether the headline figure is overstated. Also, the university's concessions ignore Durham Rising’s demand for Duke to respect workers' rights to organize and hold contractors to the same standard. DAE’s recent rise has been striking. Between fall 2023 and May 2024, an organizing drive lifted membership from 15 percent to over 50 percent [8]. That is impressive for North Carolina, where unions cannot automatically collect dues and public sector workers lack collective bargaining rights. In 2024, a DAE letter-writing campaign flooded the county commission with over 1,000 letters and helped push the Durham Public Schools budget from a proposed $13 million increase to $27 million. As a county commissioner, Allam voted in favor of that record-breaking increase [9]. In May 2025, after campaigns by DAE and community supporters, the Board of Education agreed to meet-and-confer sessions. That type of meeting is the closest that North Carolina public sector workers can legally get to formal union-management negotiations. On election night, before DAE’s sweep was announced, the union posted a picture of members and supporters. Many held signs reading “A New Era for DPS” or making horns with their hands. Two banners were draped on the wall in the background: the flag of the Landless Workers’ Movement of Brazil and the flag of Palestine. Triangle Democratic Socialists of America Allam did not seek the endorsement of Triangle Democratic Socialists of America and has not publicly identified as a democratic socialist. However, her campaign made a significant effort to court DSA members. In December 2025, she backed a new effort from the organization called the Solar Bond Campaign, which calls for ballot initiatives to fund solar panels for public school rooftops. That same month, Allam attended the group’s Socialists in Office winter gala at Namu. In January 2026, she joined a DSA-led protest calling for the closure of the Durham location of Gateway Women’s Care, an anti-abortion center [10]. Triangle DSA currently claims three officeholders: Danny Nowell on the Carrboro City Council, Nate Baker on the Durham City Council, and Natalie Bent Kitaif on the Durham Board of Education. None of the three endorsed Allam. The Chapel Hill High School Young Democratic Socialists of America did endorse Allam. Its president, Finn McElwee, became a fixture on the campaign trail and delivered a speech at the Fighting Oligarchy rally. In this election cycle, Triangle DSA’s only endorsement was Natalie Bent Kitaif for Durham Board of Education. The group reported knocking 430 doors in their first canvass for Kitaif on February 15, followed by an additional canvass on February 21, a poll greeter training on March 2, and poll greeting on election day [11, 12]. Strong Support from National-Level Progressives At the national level, the progressive movement was enthusiastic about Allam. She came into the race with strong relationships across a wide range of media figures, nonprofits, and politicians. Allam appeared on many media outlets that would have reached her target audience. She joined the Majority Report with Sam Seder on February 18, as well as Breaking Points and Hasan Piker on February 26. Major social media accounts, including Rogue DNC, Dear White Staffers, MoveOn, and People for Bernie, amplified her campaign. Progressive journalists with national profiles, including Ryan Grim and David Dayen, closely tracked the NC-04 race, and helped to quickly publicize the story of AIPAC-linked donors and Anthropic pouring millions into Foushee's campaign in the final days [13]. On the organizational side, Justice Democrats, the Working Families Party, and Sunrise Movement repeatedly intervened on behalf of Allam, framing her candidacy as part of a wave of progressive challengers nationwide. David Hogg, who founded Leaders We Deserve to promote young progressives for office, personally campaigned for Allam, and the group's PAC spent $270,000 on her behalf. American Priorities, a newly formed pro-Palestine PAC, became her campaign's largest outside financial backer, spending close to $1 million [14]. Allam’s most important endorsement from an individual politician was Sen. Bernie Sanders, who brought a packed Fighting Oligarchy rally in Durham on February 13. Well-known figures such as former Rep. Jamaal Bowman and former State Sen. Nina Turner also endorsed Allam. Sunrise Duke, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh The Sunrise Movement endorsed Allam, and its local chapters at UNC, Duke, and Raleigh offered varying levels of support. One chapter found itself largely pulled toward other priorities by the Trump-era crises unfolding around it. The national organization held several phone banking events for Allam that chapters were able to promote and participate in. Sunrise UNC organized a rally in the Pit, promoted a Young Democrats forum featuring Allam, and held a march to the polls during early voting. The group also led several canvasses. These efforts reflected dedicated work for a small club. It doesn’t appear that Allam's campaign managed to inspire a political phenomenon effect among UNC students, although she was certainly more popular than Foushee. Sunrise Duke is the most active Triangle chapter, and supported Allam, but was pulled toward pro-immigrant advocacy during the campaign. The group hosted a discussion at Tsaocha on February 28 where Allam discussed her positions on immigration, which included a call for the abolition of ICE. Sunrise Duke's main efforts were directed into the wave of anti-ICE rallies that followed the killings of Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24. The chapter also worked to draw attention to the cases of Luis Juarez and Margoth Erazo, two widely beloved Duke staff members who lost their TPS status and work authorizations during Trump's immigration crackdown [15]. There is no public evidence that Sunrise Duke engaged in door-knocking on Allam's behalf. Sunrise Raleigh's limited social media presence makes its activities and role in the Allam campaign difficult to assess. Duke Graduate Student Union DGSU has shown support for political efforts beyond just graduate worker pay and conditions. The graduate worker union is part of the Durham Rising coalition, has participated in anti-ICE efforts, endorsed the No Kings rallies, and more. However, DGSU has never made electoral endorsements, and Allam’s race was no exception. The only moment of alignment was when DGSU member Rachel Kaufman was pictured with Sanders and Allam at the Fighting Oligarchy rally on February 13 [1]. Durham Rising stepped into city council politics during the last election cycle. In September 2025, the coalition held a candidate forum and asked attendees to publicly support its five core demands. Fifteen candidates came and fourteen signed on. The one holdout was a Republican. Mayor Leonardo Williams did not attend the forum [16]. Image credit: Durham Rising No equivalent forum was held for the congressional race. Allam has backed Durham Rising, which evolved out of Duke Respect Durham. Foushee has not taken a public position on whether Duke University should make payments in lieu of taxes to the local community. DGSU won its NLRB election in August 2023, becoming the first officially recognized graduate workers union at a private university in the South. It instantly became one of the most important labor unions in the Triangle. A second major milestone came in August 2025 when DGSU and Duke University agreed on a first contract, a three-year agreement that was reached despite Trump’s destabilization of the higher education system [17]. Party for Socialism and Liberation Triangle NC Allam engaged sparingly with PSL Triangle. On January 24, she attended a PSL-affiliated "Stop ICE Terror" rally in Durham, where hundreds marched in freezing temperatures to condemn the killing of Alex Pretti by ICE agents [18]. She was absent from a PSL-sponsored rally on January 3 in Raleigh's Moore Square protesting the U.S. bombing of Caracas and the abduction of Venezuela's president. Since October 2023, PSL Triangle has held large, well-organized anti-imperialist rallies in Raleigh’s Moore Square on a biweekly or monthly basis. It is an unsung achievement without clear precedent in North Carolina history. The events are co-organized with a rotating cast of smaller allied groups and typically draw hundreds of attendees, though several have reached into the low thousands. The rallies have at various times focused on U.S. foreign policy in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Sudan, Congo, Haiti, Venezuela, and Cuba. PSL opens the stage to speakers from a wide range of groups, even when their messaging diverges from the party line. The Green Party, for instance, showed up consistently for PSL's Gaza rallies and used the platform to promote their own candidates. PSL Triangle presents a particular challenge for progressive candidates like Allam. The group has shown extraordinary capacity for mass organizing, but the national organization prohibits local branches from endorsing outside candidates. PSL campaigns only for its own. Its 2024 presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, drew just 528 North Carolina write-in vote, a number that far understates the group’s capacity. Is there a way for progressive campaigns in the Triangle to access PSL's energy? Nobody has done so yet. Union of Southern Service Workers USSW has not historically endorsed candidates and did not break that pattern for Allam. Even so, leading figures such as Mama Cookie and Keith Bullard took part in the “Fighting Oligarchy” rally with Sanders and Allam on February 13. Mama Cookie gave a speech, while Bullard was photographed backstage with the two politicians and other labor leaders [1]. In her remarks, Mama Cookie highlighted the demands of the Durham Rising coalition, which USSW is a part of. She said, “Duke sits on a pool of investments valued at $21 billion. I’m going to say that real loud: $21 billion. Meanwhile, the people keeping this city running, we’re struggling every day” [19]. The figure she cited exceeds Duke's endowment, which is valued at approximately $12 billion. USSW is a labor organization that advocates for low-wage workers across a range of workplaces, offering those without a union a way to build class consciousness and worker militancy. The SEIU-affiliated organization also help workers launch organizing efforts by mobilizing rallies and protests larger than they could manage alone. In November 2025, around 40 workers and supporters marched to Durham Food Hall, where they read a demand letter aloud to management on behalf of USSW and the Durham Hospitality Worker's Alliance. The protest was triggered when an ICE recruitment advertisement played on a screen inside the downtown Durham venue, but workers used the moment to raise a broader set of grievances. Their letter called for a public apology and anti-ICE stance from management, as well as action on unsafe working conditions (including extreme heat, frequent burn and cut injuries, and inadequate facilities), protections against sexual harassment and racism, an end to a practice of splitting workers' hours across multiple corporate entities to avoid paying overtime, and direct communication with MDO Holdings, which owns Durham Food Hall [20]. In apparent retaliation, Durham Food Hall vendor Ex Voto and Patty Boy fired Kai Bradley, one of the worker leaders [21]. Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment During the Congressional campaign, both Allam and Foushee issued statements backing CAUSE’s effort to unionize Amazon facilities in Durham. The organization did not endorse a candidate, using the election to bring both politicians to its door. On February 7, around 100 Amazon workers and supporters marched onto the grounds of DRT8, a massive fulfillment center on Person Street [22]. In the parking lot, they held a rally calling on management to hold a town hall where workers could address unionization and union-busting directly. After speeches were given, a small delegation of CAUSE members entered DRT8 to deliver that message in person. Three Durham city council members attended: Nate Baker, Javiera Caballero, and Matt Kopac. CAUSE leaders present included Rev. Ryan Brown, “Ma” Mary Hill, Italo Medelius, Orin Starn, and Juno Rondelli, alongside trade union representatives Jason Davis of IAFF 668 and Keith Bullard of USSW. Allam did not attend the February 7 rally due to a conflict with a candidate forum sponsored by the Chatham County Democratic Party. CAUSE spent years attempting to organize the RDU1 facility in Garner without success. The union is pivoting to Durham, where the political climate and community sentiment are more hospitable to organized labor. A CAUSE victory in an NLRB election against Amazon would create a new center of gravity in the Triangle's labor movement. Even without a victory, the union is well-respected by the local left. Since November 2025, management at three Amazon facilities in Durham has moved to suppress the organizing drive [23]. According to CAUSE, company propaganda now runs on a loop on warehouse televisions and Amazon has brought in anti-union consultants that cost $2,200 per day [24]. Close The Triangle's left has the power to decide who represents NC-04 in Congress, but only if its most important labor unions and socialist organizations cooperate. The Durham Rising coalition, which has successfully extracted resources from Duke University, provides a model for future collaboration. DAE’s 2026 sweep of the Board of Education offers another lesson: participate early to identify and draft candidates instead of waiting for self-selected ones to appear, and your membership will fight hard for them. UE Local 150 did the right thing by endorsing Allam, but the lack of a participatory drafting process meant that formal backing didn’t translate into rank-and-file mobilization. A tougher nut to crack is that many of the Triangle's most capable groups, such as PSL and USSW, tend not to endorse candidates. A candidate drafted by a Durham Rising-type coalition might at least arrive with greater credibility among those organizations. The NC-04 primary also showed the tendency of the local left to fragment its canvassing capacity. Allam, DAE, and Triangle DSA each ran independent door-knocking operations, drawing from the same small pool of activists during a compressed window of time. Whatever the obstacles, greater unity and mobilization will be required during the next attempt to eject the corporate establishment from the NC-04 Congressional seat. Rep. Valerie Foushee is unlikely to serve many more terms, so the chance could come soon. Works Cited UE – The Union for Everyone (@ueunion). "UE Local 150 Members Attended a Meeting with Congressional Candidate Nida Allam and Senator Bernie Sanders on His Fighting Oligarchy Tour Stop in Durham on Friday, February 13." Instagram, 13 Feb. 2026, www.instagram.com/p/DU1j8SrkfwN/?img_index=1. UE Local 150. "DHHS Newsletter – February 2026." UE Local 150, 29 Jan. 2026, ue150.org/2026/01/2907/. Carroll, Ben. "North Carolina Sanitation Workers Strike for $5K Bonuses." Labor Notes, 5 Oct. 2023, labornotes.org/2023/10/north-carolina-sanitation-workers-strike-5k-bonuses. United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE). "Durham and Charlotte Chapters of Local 150 Win Largest Wage Increases in Years." UE News, 2024, www.ueunion.org/ue-news/2024/durham-and-charlotte-chapters-of-local-150-win-largest-wage-increases-in-years. Durham Association of Educators. "Tonight Begins a New Era!" Facebook, 3 Mar. 2026, www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=968366985762016&set=pcb.968367055762009. Pellegrini de Paur, Chase. "With Strong Backing from Labor, Duke Respect Durham Campaign Holds Kickoff Event." Durham Dispatch, www.durhamdispatch.com/post/with-strong-backing-from-labor-duke-respect-durham-campaign-holds-kickoff-event. Duke University. "Duke Commits $203 Million Over Three Years to Expand Economic Opportunity in Durham and the Triangle." Duke Today, 18 Mar. 2026, today.duke.edu/2026/03/duke-commits-203-million-over-three-years-expand-economic-opportunity-durham-and-triangle. Worker Organizing Center. "Durham Association of Educators (DAE)." Premajority Unionism: Case Studies, workerorganizing.org/premajority-unionism/case-studies/durham-association-of-educators-dae/. Moore, Mary Helen. "'Big Win for Our Children': Durham Budget Will Help Schools Increase Teacher, Staff Pay." The News & Observer, 11 June 2024, www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article289072999.html. Durham Dispatch. "Activists Picket Gateway Women's Care, a Fake Abortion Clinic, in Durham." Durham Dispatch, 27 Jan. 2026, www.durhamdispatch.com/post/activists-picket-gateway-womens-care-fake-abortion-clinic-durham. NC Triangle DSA (@nctriangledsa). "Last Weekend We Knocked 430 Doors for @nbk4dps Help Us Beat Our Record at Today's Canvass and Join Us for a Social at Ponysaurus Durham After!" Instagram, 21 Feb. 2026, www.instagram.com/p/DVBlEnYjUUR/. DSA North Carolina. "Calendar." DSA NC, Feb.–Mar. 2026, www.dsanc.org/calendar. Dayen, David. "AI Goes to Bat for Valerie Foushee." The American Prospect, 25 Feb. 2026, prospect.org/2026/02/25/ai-anthropic-claude-super-pac-valerie-foushee-congress-north-carolina/. Washington, Jessica. "Nida Allam Concedes to Valerie Foushee With Razor-Thin Loss for Progressives in Key Midterm Primary." The Intercept, 5 Mar. 2026, theintercept.com/2026/03/05/nc-house-primary-valerie-foushee-nida-allam/. Duke Beyond Borders (@dukebeyondborders). "IMPORTANT COMMUNITY UPDATE: Read through to Better Understand the Situation Luis and Margoth Are In Due to a Repeated Attack on TPS from the Federal Administration." Instagram, 12 Feb. 2026, www.instagram.com/p/DUqFhAHkal3/?img_index=1. Pellegrini de Paur, Chase. "Durham Rising Pushes Council Candidates to Turn the Heat Up on Duke." INDY Week, 15 Sept. 2025, indyweek.com/news/durham/durham-rising-pushes-council-candidates-to-turn-the-heat-up-on-duke/. Tendler, Max. "Duke Grad Student Union Ratifies Historic Contract." The Duke Chronicle, 3 Sept. 2025, dukechronicle.com/article/duke-university-dgsu-scores-contract-with-administration-duke-graduate-student-union-salary-increase-20250902. Allam, Nida (@nidaallam). "Marching for Alex Pretti Today. Immigrants Are Welcome Here!" Instagram, 24 Jan. 2026, www.instagram.com/p/DT6Sp6dgfCr/?img_index=1. Union of Southern Service Workers. "Today, Durham Rising Met with @berniesanders in Durham to Talk about What Working People Here Are Facing and What Must Change." Facebook, 13 Feb. 2026, www.facebook.com/reel/1549479419444989. Durham Dispatch. "Workers March on Durham Food Hall with Demand Letter." Durham Dispatch, www.durhamdispatch.com/post/workers-march-durham-food-hall-demand-letter. @rockn_roll_dude. "We Started Organizing as Coworkers after an ICE Recruitment Ad Played in Our Workplace about a Month Ago." Instagram, 21 Nov. 2025, www.instagram.com/p/DRVrdXhDA8_/. Durham Workers (@durhamworkers). "Durham Amazon Workers March on Delivery Station DRT…" Instagram, 7 Feb. 2026, www.instagram.com/reels/DUdqykGkR7J/. Kingdollar, Brandon. "'We Didn't Lose, We Learned': Amazon Union Campaign Expands to Durham." NC Newsline, 3 Nov. 2025, ncnewsline.com/2025/11/03/we-didnt-lose-we-learned-amazon-union-campaign-expands-to-durham/. The Labor Force (@the.labor.force). "Since Workers Began Organizing at the Company's Durham Warehouses, Amazon Has Come down Hard with Its Worn, Orwellian Union-Busting Playbook." Instagram, 17 Feb. 2026, www.instagram.com/p/DU3XmnglYCU/?img_index=1.

Members of El Futuro Es Nuestro are feeling frustration, insecurity, and despair as major drought, immigration delays, and unpredictable weather impact farmworkers arriving in North Carolina. The planting season may be delayed if rain does not come soon, or the harvest may be affected by such difficult conditions. We keep our spirits up by learning, organizing, and sharing experiences with comrades in other industries, and also by planning for the El Jornalero agricultural cooperative on our plot of land in Nash County - home to our brand new (to us) tractor! There's lots to share this labor-solidarity month, particularly several actions this week that you are invited to join, plus an update about the farm that called the Sheriff on us, a story of worker advocacy, a recent award we won from Davidson College, and a round up of recent events, so read on for more! "Workers to Workers" Show Strength and Solidarity at Patterson Farms You might remember a story in our October 2025 newsletter about a visit to workers at Randal Patterson's farm, where the grower called the cops on EFEN/IOF staff organizers. Since then, we have been working with the ACLU to assure that the Rowan County Sheriff's department does not violate constitutional rights. On April 18th, as part of the Workers to Workers conference in Charlotte, over two dozen union members from groups including the UAW, CWA, the nurses union, UNITE-HERE, and Labor South came together to visit those Patterson workers. They demonstrated that "Sí Se Puede", despite the workers having been told for years that they had no right to visitors. We shared toiletries, electrolyte packets, and Know Your Rights information with the workers, but most importantly we shared solidarity. This was a powerful experience not only for the farmworker residents but also for the unions to learn more about the abuses farmworkers are facing. "There is someone in the government hurting us all; they lowered our wages, and we need to do something about it," said one of the workers. By the end of the visit, barriers had been broken, and workers were sharing tacos and spicy salsa with the guests. Big thanks to our union brothers and sisters for standing with farmworkers. Profile of EFEN/IOF Leader: Juan Medrano Organized and empowered leadership creates space for advocacy wherever we go. EFEN/IOF members learn the skills to organize and advocate not just in the fields of North Carolina, but in any situation. Juan Medrano is one of our board members who first contacted us when he was injured in a workplace accident in 2023, the day before he was supposed to go back to Mexico. His supervisor dropped him off at the hospital door and left him there. The next day, he was picked up and packed onto the bus for Mexico, still dealing with his injuries. He called EFEN/IOF co-coordinator Maria from the bus, feeling more alone than he had ever felt. She encouraged him to keep all his paperwork and record all the details. The following year, he was able to file a workers' comp claim and won his case. Since that time, Juan has become a key leader in EFEN/IOF. He ran for a seat on the board because he never wanted any other worker to ever have to feel as alone as he did on that bus ride home after his accident. He has volunteered for just about every role, including getting involved in the heat stress campaign, organizing all the workers in his camp and well as the farms nearby, and has since helped other co-workers document their workers' comp claims. Recently, he had to use his advocacy skills for a very personal case at home in Mexico, when his brother became very ill and eventually passed away, sadly. When his brother got sick and didn't show up at work (because he was at the hospital), his job fired him and cut off his health insurance, despite being entitled to those benefits. When his family learned of the insurance cut from the hospital, Juan's dad turned around to walk out the door, accepting this terrible news which would lead to expensive medical bills they had expected to be covered. But Juan wasn't giving up. Due to his organizing experiences in the fields of North Carolina, and the advocacy skills he learned from EFEN/IOF, he was prepared to fight for those benefits. So he did, and he won. Juan succeeded in getting his brother reinstated on the medical plan the same day, and ensured that all his medical costs were covered for the remaining time that his brother lived. While nothing will bring his brother back, at least his final days were spent being well cared for. This is just one example of EFEN/IOF workers using their skills to benefit others wherever they go. This article came from sections of the April 2026 email newsletter of El Futuro Es Nuestro.

Tenants from two Durham affordable housing communities publicly launched new tenant associations on Thursday, marking a necessary escalation in their collective effort to secure safer living conditions and stronger accountability from their landlord, DHIC. Residents of Willard Street Apartments and Ashton Place have formed Willard Street United and Ashton Seniors in Action, respectively. At a joint press conference outside Ashton Place, tenants called on DHIC to formally recognize their unions and commit to regular quarterly meet-and-confer sessions. Several tenants spoke out about their living conditions which include mold, improperly installed appliances, and a systemic failure to provide basic security for a majority senior community. “We’re not living here for free,” said resident Kim Lovely. “So based on that alone, we need to have the assistance and the help that we’re paying for. We deserve to be secured and we deserve to be safe in our environment. I am determined to use my voice, because I have a voice.” Willard Street and Ashton Place are publicly subsidized affordable housing developments managed by DHIC, a nonprofit organization tasked with providing housing for low-income residents and seniors. While the properties are often cited as examples of successful affordable housing, tenants and advocates say the reality has fallen short, citing ongoing concerns about maintenance delays, building safety, and inadequate staffing. Tenants point to longstanding issues such as slow repairs, malfunctioning doors, and insufficient maintenance capacity across the two buildings, which together house more than 140 units. Tenants pay a substantial portion of their fixed incomes and find their requests for clean and functional living spaces are often stalled within poorly staffed administration or sometimes fully ignored. In January, tenants at both properties submitted petitions outlining their demands, each signed by a majority of households. “A full-time maintenance man and a part-time maintenance man is not enough to take care of two buildings,” said tenant Bill Thompson. “Two managers are not enough to take care of two buildings.” He went on to describe a variety of amenities that tenants have created for themselves in a void of tenant support from management. “They have a food bank here. A tenant is doing that. We have Bible studies. We have group activities. That’s the tenants.” The tenant associations are affiliated with the Triangle Tenant Union (TTU), a local chapter of the North Carolina Tenants Union (NCTU), and are part of a broader wave of local tenant organizing following the passage of new local protections aimed at strengthening housing safety enforcement for tenants that consistently overpay for unsafe living conditions. TTU is a collection of autonomous tenant groups and local organizers who provide organizing support and resources for tenants facing unsafe and undignified living conditions. They also contribute toward a statewide tenant support network through affiliation with NCTU. “We went to a city hall meeting,” said resident Veronica Perry, describing mobilization for a pro-tenant ordinance at Durham City Council on October 20. “That was the best thing that could have ever happened. We were there fighting for the Triangle Tenant Union and we won. I thank God for the Triangle Tenant Union. We have gotten so much done through y’all.” Tenants say their organizing has already begun to produce results, with some improvements secured through sustained pressure and advocacy. Still, they argue that formal recognition of their unions is essential to ensuring long-term accountability and consistent communication with management. “I don’t appreciate being treated like I’m nobody,” said local tenant leader Cynthia Hoskins. “Because we’re all people. We’ve all worked our long lives to get to where we are. I have been retaliated against ever since I’ve been here and let me tell you: the claws is out. And I’m not through fighting.” This article was first published by Triangle Tenant Union .

Climate scientists warn that global warming is accelerating past emissions goals Last week, the Town of Carrboro added its voice to a growing call from over 320 groups in climate-impacted communities, businesses and elected officials, along with faith, youth-based, and environmental groups for NC Governor Josh Stein to stop Duke Energy’s massive expansion of fossil fuels. “We, the Carrboro Town Council, urge NC Governor Josh Stein to become a national climate champion by using every tool available to him to persuade or require Duke Energy executives to phase out deadly and dangerous fuel sources and transition to affordable, resilient, and renewable energy,” Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee said as she led the Town Council to unanimously pass (start video at 21:35) a resolution being promoted by NC WARN. Others recently endorsing the resolution include esteemed former Durham mayor Steve Schewel, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam, Yes Solar Solutions, Sunrise Movement Asheville, Weaver Street Market, Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle, Clean Water for North Carolina and the North Carolina A. Philip Randolph Institute, among many others. Climate Point of No Return This move comes as the world’s leading scientists, including James Hansen, say the climate crisis is accelerating; we are blowing past global climate targets (1.5°C over pre-industrial temperatures) and heading toward a point of no return unless sweeping and dramatic reductions in emissions are made in the 2020s.  Last year, over 60 scientists, led by globally-prominent climatologist Drew Shindell, called directly on NC Governor Josh Stein to get Duke Energy to immediately begin phasing out fossil fuels instead of expanding them. “It is really an emergency that we change course as quickly as possible, which is what you do in an emergency … you do whatever it takes,” Shindell said. “We really need to use all the levers we can to push Duke Energy away from this fossil fuel path.” The Duke University climatologist has several times publicly urged the governor to take action, including in a new video ad being run by NC WARN.  Hansen, who was Shindell’s colleague at Columbia University for years, recently wrote that “the current flippant attitude – 1.5°C isn’t so bad, we can deal with 3°C – of people who should know better will dissolve, if we can improve understanding of the danger of passing the point of no return.” Hansen also recently stated that the goal to keep global warming under 2°C is now “implausible,” although he indicated that acknowledging the true climate situation is an essential first step toward avoiding climate catastrophe. That’s why, as NC WARN’s resolution states, Governor Stein must break through the deception and help the public understand that North Carolina is on the wrong course, and that Duke Energy must finally begin a genuine transition to clean energy if this state is ever going to help slow the climate crisis. This article was first published by NC WARN .

Image credit: Wells Fargo Workers United North Carolina’s labor unions sound the alarm on Wells Fargo’s financial ties to far-right think tanks as bank workers organize for fair working conditions Wells Fargo, one of North Carolina's largest employers, is under scrutiny for its  sponsorship of the 2026 Carolina Liberty Conference, hosted by the extreme right-wing John Locke Foundation (JLF) on February 27th and 28th in Raleigh. This financial support comes as Wells Fargo workers across the country, including in North Carolina, are actively organizing for better working conditions with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The John Locke Foundation advocates statewide for an agenda that includes: Tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, having successfully pushed for the corporate tax rate to be reduced to 0% by 2030, a move critics argue is creating North Carolina's current budget crisis. "Donor privacy" legislation to   limit the disclosure of political donors and shield dark money groups from public scrutiny. School privatization and voucher expansion. Enshrining "right-to-work" laws in the state's constitution. Anti-immigrant policies, including removing protections for asylum seekers. Wells Fargo’s sponsorship of this conference is a direct endorsement of the JLF’s agenda, which is fundamentally opposed to the interests of working families in North Carolina. “It is deeply concerning that a corporation employing thousands of North Carolinians would funnel money to a group actively working to undermine workers’ rights, public education, and sound fiscal policy,” said NC State AFL-CIO President Braxton Winston. “This sponsorship stands in stark contrast to the efforts of their own employees who are organizing for a voice on the job.” Wells Fargo workers have successfully organized and won NLRB elections with CWA at 30 Wells Fargo branches nationwide, including one in Apex, North Carolina, and in one corporate department. Approximately 34,000 Wells Fargo workers live in North Carolina, with 27,000 employed in Charlotte alone, making the company the 5th largest employer in the state. The company has a significant lobbying presence in North Carolina, spending over $688,000 on lobbying over the past decade, with 93% of those disclosures relating to "Government, taxation, financing, revenue, budget, appropriations, bids, fees, funds.” Furthermore, Wells Fargo has funded the campaigns of John Locke Foundation keynote speaker, NC Senate Majority Leader Michael Lee. The revelation of this sponsorship highlights a stark conflict between Wells Fargo’s public image as a community-oriented employer and the reality of its financial support for an organization committed to a radical, anti-worker political platform. This support raises questions about the company's commitment to its North Carolina workforce, especially given that CEO Charles Scharf received  $40 million in compensation in 2025. This article was first published by the NC AFL-CIO .

Image credit: City of Durham The process of rewriting Durham’s Unified Development Ordinance came to an abrupt halt last week due to a bit of legislation tacked onto a state bill in 2024. “In December of 2024, which is a while ago now, the General Assembly added a significant zoning provision to the Hurricane Helene relief bill. It was a typical rider in that it had nothing to do with Hurricane Helene,” said Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop. The zoning provision in question prohibits local government from making specific zoning changes known as “downzoning,” a process in which a property can be rezoned from a high-intensity use (e.g., commercial or high-density residential) to a less intense, more restrictive use (e.g., single-family residential or open space) - prohibits them unless written consent is given by all property owners in the area. This means an area previously zoned for industrial or commercial use can’t be rezoned to single-family homes or conservation management. Though the city’s planning department was moving ahead with its UDO employing carve-outs, meaning property owners concerned about proposed zoning changes would be exempt, it was one of those property owners threatening to sue the city that bought the UDO process to a standstill just days before a public meeting on its latest draft was to be held. “It’s on pause, indefinitely, with no timeline to move forward,” Samantha said. “All those resources, all the hours spent by city staff, residents making comments and compiling technical comments, no one is able to move forward with anything. While we felt that the UDO draft was far from perfect, we certainly want our local governments to have the ability to update their land-use plans. That’s a really critical power. Without it, our local governments’ hands are tied in what they’re able to do. Their options are severely limited, from how to protect water quality to how to address climate impacts and respond to community needs in changing times - that becomes really challenging if you can’t change zoning code.” For the past two years, Samantha has been an active participant in Durham’s UDO process, which brings the city’s land-use laws into alignment with its 2023 Comprehensive Plan, in itself, a comprehensive document envisioning Durham’s future growth. In that time, she attended several community open houses, met with City of Durham planning staff, had countless email exchanges, made line-by-line comments on previous UDO drafts, crafted Action Alerts and met with community members. “I don’t how to quantify the amount of time I, and so many other people, have put into the process of planning for a future Durham,” Samantha said. It’s the not the first time a city’s land-use process has been waylaid by the Hurricane Helene legislation: New Bern’s land use update was paused last year for the same reason. Samantha said the result is local governments are prevented from doing the job they are required to do: create comprehensive plans and associated UDOs to provide the policy code. “This makes it impossible for local government to change their land uses,” she said. “It basically shackles them - how is the city supposed to do their job of ensuring that zoning codes are seen through the stated vision of city leaders and the community?” Like how your Riverkeeper is advocating for your communities? We do! Donate today to support her work! This article was first published by Sound Rivers .

Image credit: Claire Hambrick ( @clairebyphotos ) On March 7, more than 100 people gathered in Moore Square to oppose US aggression against Iran. The demonstration was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, with support from CodePinkNC, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and other groups. The event also marked International Women's Day, observed the following day. A PSL member served as emcee, opening the rally with a warning against further escalation. “ American boots on the ground would be devastating,” he told the crowd. “It could lead to a long-term conflict with mass casualties on both sides. Guess who will be asked to fight and die for them. Will it be the children of the politicians and the billionaires? Will be the children of the weapons executives and the oil executives? No, it's going to be regular working-class people.” Saturday’s event in Raleigh was supported by Muslims for Social Justice and Triangle chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Moore Square has become a regular site of peace demonstrations since October 2023. Most protests have focused on the genocide in Gaza, though the gatherings regularly discuss and denounce US policy toward Lebanon, Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, and other states. Emily-Rose Gaeta, a member of CodePink, delivered the first speech. “ We are proud to be anti-war, to be anti-imperialist, to be human rights driven,” she said. “You are clearly on our side. We have to come together every day, as individuals, as humans, and see the atrocities that our country the United States of America is doing across the world. Right now, we’re at war with Iran. Why? Because power, because profits, because land. Everything that matters to us, our healthcare, our community, our families, our health, they don't care about.” Gaeta called out weapons companies with offices in the Research Triangle, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris Technologies. She urged activists organized campaigns against the companies to pressure their employees into resigning. Between speeches, the emcee led the crowd in chants such as “no threat, no bomb, no war on Iran”, “money for the people’s needs, not the US war machine”, "not a penny, not a dollar, we won't pay for war and slaughter”, and “we want justice, you say how, end the bombing right now”. Samira Haddad, speaking on behalf of the Palestinian Youth Movement, addressed the U.S.-backed Israeli invasion of Lebanon. “As of right now there are millions of people in Lebanon sleeping on the streets, on sidewalks, on beaches, in schools,” she said. “Entire families camping out with where to go. This comes after Israel ordered the forced displacement of more than 1,000,000 civilians. These evacuation orders were issued for all of southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut with no clear timeline, no beginning, and no end.” Participants carried signs with messages like “let Gaza live”, “hands off Iran”, and “no troops on the ground, no bombs in the air”. Many attendees wore the Palestinian keffiyeh. PSL organizers were identifiable by bright red shirts with the words “socialism is the future” across the back. Juliana, an N.C. State University student and PSL member, spoke about the role of students in opposing the war with Iran. She drew comparisons to Vietnam-era campus protests, the Gaza encampments, and anti-ICE demonstrations that students led in 2026. She noted that N.C. State had just announced a tuition increase, even as the federal government moves to funnel hundreds of billions into the war effort. As speakers addressed the crowd, a few passersby on Hargett Street stopped to listen. PSL members were positioned nearby, ready to talk or offer flyers. The Marble Kids Museum was in the crowd’s line of sight, but too far away to see the reactions of the many families coming and going. A line of police vehicles waited on Hargett Street, not to suppress the demonstration, but to escort the march once the speeches ended. Among the most compelling speakers was Kalia Fitzgerald, a member of the Green Party. “ We are called to disrupt, to stand in the way, to being a roadblock when our government chooses to prosecute war as a business model,” she said. “This is not about defending our shores. It is about imposing rule by force completely outside the bounds of international law.” Fitzgerald highlighted a recent act of protest by Brian McGinnis, the Green Party’s candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. On March 4, McGinnis’ arm was brutally broken by  Capitol Police  and Senator Tim Sheehy after he interrupted a Senate subcommittee hearing to protest the Iran War . Tania Trejo-Mendez, a PSL member, was the last speaker. " The consequences of US imperialism are already devastating millions across the world,” she said. “For almost three years and beyond the world has watched the destruction of Gaza where women, children, and entire families have been killed in staggering numbers. Now the same war machine is threatening to expand that violence even further. " The human toll of US aggression and destabilization in the Middle East has been extensively studied. The Costs of War Project at Brown University estimates that between 2001 and 2023, wars directly killed approximately 940,000 people across Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan. When accounting for indirect deaths, stemming from the collapse of healthcare systems, economic devastation, environmental damage, the figure rises to at least 4.5 million people. Those figures do not include Palestine, Lebanon, Libya, or Iran [ 1 ]. The only politician present was Joshua Bradley, who has run for Raleigh city council several times. The Triangle chapter of the PSL has grown into a popular and active left-wing group, especially among young socialists of color, in part by keeping its distance from mainstream electoral politics. When the speeches ended, the crowd filed out of Moore Square, and their march wound through downtown Raleigh. Two banners led the procession: “Remember Iraq” and “Stop the War on Iran”. Many chants and signs also referenced the Vietnam War. Organizers brought along a powerful speaker mounted in a wagon, and a drummer helped the chanters keep their tune. The weather was so pleasant that the people on the sidewalks outnumbered the marchers. Chant leaders wove in tributes to International Women's Day such as "Women hold up half the sky, no to war and genocide", alluding to a saying from Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Bystanders overwhelmingly responded positively, probably a reflection of widespread opposition to the Iran War rather than an endorsement of the march’s strident anti-imperialism. The sole negative reaction came from an older white man dressed in country club attire. Standing with a younger person who appeared to be his son, he shook his head when he noticed the protest. Then the man grinned and gave a thumbs down. The March 7 demonstration also showed how PSL skillfully develops its membership.  While Victor Urquiza, a seasoned organizer, typically serves as emcee, a newer member filled that role on Saturday with considerable skill. Chant-leading duties during the march were rotated among several members. Some were confident and effective, while others were clearly new to the task and a bit shaky. The results might seem uneven to an outside observer, but the approach shows PSL’s deliberate effort to cultivate new talent. Western powers have spent more than a century tormenting the people of Iran. After oil was discovered, the UK turned Iran into a client state and controlled their oil through the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, which is today British Petroleum. When Iranians reclaimed their resources under the democratic government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, the US and UK overthrew him in 1953 and installed a puppet dictatorship that lasted for more than two decades. In the 1980s, the US supported Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein when he invaded Iran in a conflict left between one and two million people dead. Decades of US sanctions on Iran followed. In June 2025, the US and Israel launched a brief war on Iran, and then attacked again in February 2026. The current war has killed more than 1,400 civilians and at least 200 children. Work Cited Human . (2026, March 3). Costs of War | Brown University. https://costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/costs/human